Auto radiator hanger clamp



Nov. 20, 1951 H. B. FECHTER 2,575,412

AUTO RADIATOR HANGER CLAMP Filed March 22, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET-l y1'9" VERJ QCZQF INVENTOR 1 1 BY /I1 'r1 ATTORNEYS H. BJFECHTER AUTO RADIATOR HANGER CLAMP Nov. 20, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 22, 1948 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS atented Nov. 20, 1951 V'OFFICEI AUTO RADIATOR HANGER CLAMP Harry B. Fechter, Minneapolis, Minn. Application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,322

This invention relates to adjustable clamps designed primarily for use in clamping radiator hangers into close engagement with radiators of motor vehicles so that the soldering of the hanger to the radiator may be readily accomplished.

An important object of the invention is to provide a clamp including adjustable clamping arms with means for manually moving the arms towards each other in clamping a radiator hanger, yieldable means being provided for maintaining the arms in an adjusted position with respect to the hanger and radiator, when the hanger is tapped or hammered in, causing the hanger to conform to the contour of the radiator held within the hanger.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a radiator illustrating a hanger as held into close engagement with the radiator by means of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View of the clamp.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the clamp as connected with the hanger arms prior to the operation of the clamp to tighten the hanger on the radiator.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a motor vehicle radiator to be supported and held within the hanger which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character 6, the hanger comprising yieldable arms formed with ears I adjacent to their upper ends, to which ears the jaws 8 of the clamp, are secured in positioning the clamp on the hanger. It might be stated that these hangers are usually brought into engagement with the radiator, and then soldered, permanently, securing the radiator within the hanger.

The clamp forming the essence of the invention, includes arms 9 and III, the arm I0 operating under the arm 9.

Secured to the arm I0 is the guide block II, which guide block extends upwardly from the arm I0 and is provided with a rectangular open- 1 Claim. (01. 354-100) ing providing a guide for the arm 9, which moves therethrough. Above the rectangular opening is a threaded bore I2 which extends longitudinally through the block II, the threaded bore being engaged by the threads I3 of the shaft I4, which also is provided with the shank I5 at one end thereof, whereby the shaft I4 may be manually operated.

Extending upwardly from the arm 9, at a point adjacent to the outer curved end thereof, is the lug I6, which is formed with an opening through which the reduced end I I of the shaft I4 extends, the reduced end of the shaft I4 extending an appreciable distance beyond the lug surface, where it supports the coiled spring I8, the coiled spring I8 having its inner end resting in the cup I9 held against the lug I6, while the opposite end of the spring is held within the cup 29 secured to the reduced end I! of the shaft I4.

In the use of the clamp, the jaws 8 of the arms 9 and I6 are positioned under the ears I, formed adjacent to the upper ends of the side arms of the hanger, as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The shank I5 is now rotated to feed the arms 9 and I0 longitudinally of each other, the jaws 8 moving towards each other until the side members of the hanger 6 are brought into close engagement with the sides of the radiator 5. Further rotation of the shank I5 will cause the spring I8 to be placed under tension.

The hanger is now in a position as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, and may be tapped or hammered to cause it to conform accurately to the contour of the radiator, the coiled spring I8 acting to compensate for the movement of the hanger arms into close engagement with the radiator, due to the hammering, so that the clamp will not fall from its position, connected with the radiator hanger. The radiator hanger may now be soldered to the radiator and when the solder has properly set the clamp may be removed with the assurance that the hanger arms will not expand and become separated from radiator to which the hanger is soldered.

By rotating the shaft I4 in the opposite direction, the arms 9 and I0 may be moved longitudinally with respect to each other, the jaws expanding to disengage the ears I, to the end that the clamp may be removed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A radiator hanger clamp comprising upper and lower arms slidable longitudinally with respect to each other, jaws at the free ends of the arms adapted to hook into ears of a radiator hanger,

connecting the clamp to the hanger, a guide block mounted on the lower arms and. having a horizontal bore extending therethrough into which the upper arm slides, said guide block having a threaded bore extending therethrough in parallel relation with said horizontal bore, a lug having an opening, rising from the upper arm, the opening of the lug aligning with said threaded bore of the guide block, a threaded shaftvopcrating in the threaded bore of the guide block and being loosely mounted in the opening of said lug, one end of said threaded shaft extending be yond said lug, a cup secured to the end of said threaded shaft, spaced from thelug, a s'piingonthe shaft resting in the cap with; one; end. en-t gaging the lug, whereby rotation of the threaded shaft in one direction tensions-the spring and directs pressure on the lug, moving thear-mstowards each other, and said spring compensating for movement of the threaded shaft beyond a predetermined point.

HARRY B. FECHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UN IIIED STATES RATENTS,

Number Name. Date 1,367,094 Ragona Feb. 1, 1921 1,627,288 Kurkowski May 3, 1927 13710992 Hitchcock Apr. 23, 1929 1,741,785 Lynch Dec. 31, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,641 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1926 

